Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-07-19
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Ipk u x M - ~ ~
A rsthssie Littis s,ery Descriptive Of the
Severity Or Martial Law.
During one ssyere seasoa some forty
years ago--a winterremarkabie for it,
long and iuc.ement frost, experienced
with equal rigor throughout Italy.
France and Germany. where the largesi
rivers were rapidly CONCEALED and
people seen TO fall dead with cold--in
THE FTeHsss town Of Mstz. poor senti.
mel was sent upon guard on one Of the
bitterest pights when fierco north
wind added to the usual cold. Hi.
watch was in the exposed situation Of
the place, AMI lie had scarcely recoy-
cred from a severe indisposition; but
he was a soldier and declared his readi
ness to take his round.
IL CHANGED that he was betrothed ia
ayonng woman Of the same city, who
no sooner heard Of his being on duty
than she began TO lament bitterly. de-
claring IL to be impossible for him Ia
survive the insuffcrable severity OF such
II night, after the illness under which
he still fingered.
Maddened al the idea and needless
Of consequences. she hastily clotbc d
herself as warmly rs she could, ran
out Of the house, situated not far from
The place Of the watch. and with the
utmost courage arrived alone at the
spot. And there she indeed found her
poor soldier. nearly as exhausted as
she had imagined. being with difiicu lty
able to keep his feet, owing to the in
tcnseness Of the frost. She earnestly
conjnred him to hasten, though only
for little while, to revive himself at
her house, when, having taken some
refrcshmeni, he might return; hut.
aware OF the consequences of such a
sep, this he refused to do.
Suppose can do it with impunity,"
said the soldier; lis it noble or honor
able thus 10 abandon my post without
any one upon guard?'
But there wiz be some one! If you
consent to 2 +. ] will remain here until
you return. l am not the least afraid;
20 be quick and give me your arms.
This request she enforced with SO
much eloqucnce and tenderness and 50
many tears that the poor soldier.
agains this better Judgment, was fain to
yield, more especially as he felt himself
becoming fainter and fainter. and
unable much longer to resist the cold
Intending to return within few
minutes, he left the kind-hearted girl
in his place, wrapping her in his cloak.
and giving her his arms and cap, to.
gether with the watchword, and suc..
was her delight at the idea of having
saved the life of her beloved that she
was for a time.insensible to the intense
severity of the weather.
But just as she was fattering herself
with the hope of his return an officer
made his appearance, who, as she for
got in her confusion to give the sign,
suspected that the soldier had either
fallen asleep or fled. What was his
surprise on rushing TO the spot to find
IA young girl overpowcred with alarm
and unable to give any account of her
self, from her extreme agitation and
tears!
Being instantly conducted to the
guard house and restored to SONS de-
gree of confidence, the poor girl con
fessed the whole truth, soliciting with
the anguish of doubt and distraction a
pardon for her betrothed husband. He
was instantly summoned from her
house. but was found in such a state of
weakness from the sufferings ha had
undergone as to leave little prospect
II his surviving them. 1t was with
much difficulty. with the assistance of
medical advice, that he was restored
sufficiently to give an Ineligible ac-
count of himself. after which he was
placed in close custody to await trial
Far happier had it been for me. F."
he exclaimed on being restored to con
seriousness. far happier to have died
1t my post than To be thus reserved for
| cruel and ignominious DEATH
And the day of the trial coming on,
such was the polite severity Of martial
law, as he had we'll forseen. that he
was condemned TO be executed within
few days after his sentence.
Great as was his affection on hearing
these things. it was little in comparison
with the remorse and terror that dis
tracted the breast of his belovnd girl,
who, in addition TO the grief of losing
him in SO public and ignominious a
manner, accused herself as the ca use
Of the whole calamity. He to whom
she had been so long and tenderly at
tached was now to fall, as it were, by
the hand of his betrothed bride.
Such was the strangeness and sud
denness of the event that. her feelings
being wrought up to the highest pitch
of eNcitatioa and terror. her very
despair seemed to give her strength.
and, casting all fear of consequences
aside, she make vow TO save him or
perish in the attempt. Bitterly weep
ing and with disheveled hair, she ran
wildly through the city. beseeching
pity and compassi on from all her
friends and acquaintance and solicit
ing every body of rank and influence
to unite in petitioning for pardon for
her lover, or that her life, she being
the sole author of the fault, might be